Amaluna New York Tickets

About Amaluna by Cirque du Soleil

Even if you’ve seen Cirque du Soleil before – and there’s a good chance you have, seeing as the popular Canadian show has wowing audiences since 1984 – the award-winning circus troupe’s latest show, Amaluna, is well worth another trip to the magical Grand Chapiteau.

Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Amaluna takes place on a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. The queen of the goddesses, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a ritual that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth, and balance, marking the passing of feminine insights and values from one generation to the next.

During a tumultuous storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men are washed up on the shore, triggering en epic and emotional love story between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But the couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can find true happiness, and these trials are the elements that compose the Amaluna production.

Complex circus arts are the centerpiece of Amaluna, including battles on the aerial straps, hand-balancing upon a giant waterbowl, juggling, Chinese pole maneuvers, uneven bars routines, teeterboard performances, and Icarian games. But also true to Cirque du Soleil form, the set is both immersive and open, offering a mysterious, verdant, enchanted island where the most important and impressive feature is a carefully crafted “forest” of bamboo-like branches – 174 of them in 534 sections for a total of 1.05 miles spread throughout the set. And the costumes are equally elaborate, with more than 130 of them in the production (composed of more than 800 elements). Corseted Amazon warriors wear ponytails and high-heeled black and red leather boots, Prospera’s daughter dons a Renaissance look, and lizards, peacocks and fairies all rub shoulders with each other.

Amaluna is a fusion of the words “ama,” which refers to “mother” in many languages, and “luna,” which means moon, a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddesses and the protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where the story unfolds. Further emphasizing the feminine aspects of the show, for the first time at Cirque du Soleil, the cast is 70% female. “Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” Fernand Rainville, Director of Creation, says. “The show is a reflection on balance from a woman’s perspective.” Director Diane Paulus adds: “The show is less about feminism and more about reconnecting to our world in a different way.”

Run timeTwo hours and 30 minutes (one intermission)

Citi Field DetailsThe show begins on time, and latecomers are admitted only during a break in the performance. No outside food or beverages are allowed, but refreshments and snacks are available at the entrance of the tent (as is a Cirque du Soleil gift shop). The Grand Chapiteau is temperature-controlled, so you won't have to worry about being cold in the tent. All videotaping, photography and audio recordings are strictly prohibited, and all cell phones must be turned off during the show. Strollers are not permitted in the Grand Chapiteau, but the tent is wheelchair-accessible.

Did you know?Amaluna is the first Cirque du Soleil show with an all-female group of musicians performing its soundtrack.